Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has shown a strong preference for appointing retired IAS officers to significant posts after their retirement, often offering them voluntary retirement shortly before their official retirement date. These officers are then quickly given important roles such as chairmanships, commissions, corporations, or even vice-chancellorships of universities. Many former IAS officers find themselves in such prestigious positions after retiring.
One such officer, after retiring, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Bihar Sports University in Rajgir. Retired IAS officer Shishir Sinha, who took voluntary retirement from his post as Development Commissioner seven years ago is all set to take up the new designation shortly.
Mr. Shishir Sinha, a 1982 batch IAS officer, has been named the first Vice Chancellor of Bihar Sports University, Rajgir, with the Sports Department issuing an official notification lately. This marks a notable trend where the Vice Chancellor of the university is a retired IAS officer. Just two months ago, Mr. Rajinikanth (2011-batch IAS officer), the District Magistrate (DM) of Lakhisarai, who was also nearing retirement, was given voluntary retirement and quickly appointed as the Registrar In-charge and Vice Chancellor of the university. Now, Officer Shishir Sinha replaces Mr. Rajinikanth as the permanent Vice-Chancellor.
Mr. Sinha was scheduled to retire in July 2018, but shortly before his retirement, the Nitish government granted him voluntary retirement and appointed him to several key positions. After his retirement, Officer Sinha served as the Chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Commission. Seven years ago, the seasoned IAS officer, then the Development Commissioner, and IAS Naushad Yusuf (2006 batch), the DM of Begusarai, were both granted voluntary retirement by the government. On the same day, Mr. Sinha was appointed as the Chairman of BPSC, while Mr. Naushad Yusuf was made a member of the same commission.